UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Football welcomes Maryland to Beaver Stadium Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. The game will air on Big Ten Network and the Penn State Sports Network (airtime 2 p.m.).
COVID-19 Safety
- Under current Big Ten guidance, public tickets will not be sold for 2020 Penn State football games. Fans are encouraged to cheer the Nittany Lions on from afar through virtual initiatives.
- The University in conjunction with the Borough of State College, has discouraged visitors in the interests of public health and safety.
- Tailgating is not permitted on game days in any University parking lots. More information can be found here: https://bit.ly/34pBX6c.
- Tailgating or gathering on campus and/or in University parking lots is not permitted and will be monitored closely.
- If fans choose to gather at their home, Penn State recommends following local health and safety guidelines as Nittany Nation virtually comes together on football Saturdays.
Familiar Foe
- Penn State is meeting Maryland for the 44th time, ranking the Terrapins as the Nittany Lions' sixth-most frequent opponent.
- Penn State is 40-2-1 in the previous 43 meetings with a 23-1 advantage in Happy Valley.
Dotson Breaks Out
- WR Jahan Dotson is tied for the Big Ten lead in receiving touchdowns with Purdue's David Bell with four this season.
- Dotson had three against Ohio State last week in a career game which included career highs with eight receptions and 144 receiving yards.
- His receiving yard total was the most by a Penn State receiver since current NFL-er Chris Godwin recorded 187 yards vs. USC in the 2016 Rose Bowl.
1,000
- Juniors TE Pat Freiermuth (981 yds) and WR Jahan Dotson (929 yds) are both approaching 1,000 career receiving yards. Freiermuth enters the Maryland game 19 yards shy of the milestone, while Dotson needs 71 yards.
- Through two games in 2020, Freiermuth is averaging 53 yards per game, while Dotson is averaging 119 yards per game.
The Opposition
- Maryland is 1-1 after bouncing back from a season-opening loss at Northwestern with a 17-point fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Minnesota in overtime last week.
- Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa leads the Big Ten's third-ranked offense, while linebacker Chance Campbell is the Big Ten's leading tackler.
Virtual Valley Experience
- Penn State Athletics will implement the Virtual Valley Experience, presented by Aquafina, as a way to virtually bring Nittany Lion fans to football game days, including having a presence in Beaver Stadium.
- Virtual Valley will also give fans behind-the-scenes access to the Penn State football program all season long.
- Fans can visit the site at www.GoPSUsports.com/virtualvalley for more information on any the initiatives.
Fan Cutouts
- Fans can still purchase cutouts of themselves to be placed inside Beaver Stadium for the remaining home games of the 2020 football season.
- Cutouts are $85 for the first cutout, $75 for each additional cutout (up to three additional cutouts) and $65 for Penn State students for the season.
- Portions of the net proceeds from this initiative will be donated to THON, as well as Penn State equity and inclusion programs: Bunton-Waller scholarship program and Multicultural Faculty Development Support Funds. The Bunton-Waller scholarship is named in honor of Mildred Settle Bunton (1932), recognized as the first African American woman to graduate from Penn State, and Calvin Hoffman Waller (1904), believed to be Penn State's first African American graduate. The scholarship is given to students who enhance the broad and diverse student population at Penn State.
- The cutouts will be placed inside Beaver Stadium and visible to the student-athletes.
- For more information and to purchase your fan cutouts, visit www.gopsusports.com/cutouts.
The Unrivaled Pregame Show
- The Unrivaled Pregame Show, presented by Highmark, airs at 8 a.m. each week. This new show will bring the game day experience into fans' homes by highlighting the traditions and fan experiences which make Penn State the best game experience in the country.
- The Unrivaled Postgame Show, returning for its second season, recaps the game with coach and student-athlete interviews. Both programs are available to fans for free on LionVision, Facebook LIVE and Twitter.
Additional virtual initiatives for the 2020 football season include:
- Fan Photos on Beaver Stadium Videoboard: Fans can show their support of Penn State football student-athletes by posting photos on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #PSUPride. Photos will be featured on the videoboards in Beaver Stadium during home games and on the Virtual Valley Experience website.
- Unrivaled Podcast: Unrivaled: The Official Podcast of Penn State Football, presented by Rocket Mortgage, returns for its second season with new episodes each Thursday.
- Virtual Tailgate of the Game Contest, presented by Weis Markets: Each game day, fans will be asked to share photos of their socially distant or virtual tailgates on social media, using #PSUPride. The fans showing the most Penn State spirit will be selected as the Tailgate of the Game and claim a prize from the Nittany Lion Club.
- Behind the Mic: The Penn State Sports Network brings fans into the radio booth with Steve Jones and Jack Ham. Watch and listen to Steve and Jack as they broadcast the game and it will be streamed on LionVision and Facebook Live (Penn State Nittany Lions account). Please note, this video feed does not show the game.
- Trivia Contest, presented by Utz: Each week at halftime of the game, fans will have the opportunity to participate in the Penn State Football-themed trivia contest. The link to the trivia contest will be posted on the Penn State Football social channels on Friday of game week.
- Nittany Lion Club Tailgate Cookbook Recipe of the Week: The Nittany Lion Club will feature its Recipe of the Week, presented by Weis Markets, each Wednesday.
- Zoom Backgrounds: Penn State Athletics has a variety of virtual Zoom backgrounds, including tailgate lot views, available by clicking here.
The 2020 Penn State Football Season is presented by PSECU.